The next step toward balancing the Tacoma Public Schools 2011-2012 budget will occur Thursday, Feb. 24, when the school board hears a proposal on specific elementary schools that could close after the current school year.
Last month, the district identified six low-enrollment elementary schools -- Franklin, Lyon, McKinley, Roosevelt, Stanley and Wainwright – as schools that possibly could consolidate with surrounding schools to help partially close a $13.5 million budget shortfall for the next school year.
Most likely, the district could consolidate three or four elementary schools next year and still have capacity for additional elementary school enrollment throughout the district.
Superintendent Art Jarvis, as part of his regular report to the school board, will outline the budget’s effects on elementary schools, update the board on a proposal to increase class size and generally describe additional administrative savings in various district operations.
Following the board meeting, the district will schedule a series of community meetings in the areas affected by the elementary school consolidations.
The board meets first at 5:15 p.m. for a study session on program evaluation. Deputy Superintendent Carla Santorno will outline a process by which the district, over time, can evaluate the effectiveness of programs. The evaluation could help eliminate or improve low-benefit programs.
At 6 p.m., the board will kick off its regular meeting with a public hearing to take testimony on a proposal to surplus three district properties.
The properties are Willard Site (1.9 acres), 3201 S. D St. in Tacoma; Cirque and Alameda Site (15 acres), southeast corner of Cirque Drive and Alameda Avenue in Tacoma; Camp Joshua Taylor (20 acres), 19607 Bay Road, Longbranch, Wash.
The board meets at the Central Administration Building, fourth-floor auditorium, 601 S. Eighth St.